diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/CommonsApplication.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/CommonsApplication.java
index d3507a848..5fcab1d0b 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/CommonsApplication.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/CommonsApplication.java
@@ -5,9 +5,6 @@ import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.SharedPreferences;
 import android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase;
 import android.support.multidex.MultiDexApplication;
-import android.os.Build;
-import android.support.annotation.NonNull;
-import android.support.annotation.RequiresApi;
 
 import com.facebook.drawee.backends.pipeline.Fresco;
 import com.facebook.imagepipeline.core.ImagePipelineConfig;
@@ -104,22 +101,10 @@ public class CommonsApplication extends MultiDexApplication {
             Stetho.initializeWithDefaults(this);
         }
 
-        createNotificationChannel(this);
         // Fire progress callbacks for every 3% of uploaded content
         System.setProperty("in.yuvi.http.fluent.PROGRESS_TRIGGER_THRESHOLD", "3.0");
     }
 
-    public static void createNotificationChannel(@NonNull Context context) {
-        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-            NotificationManager manager = (NotificationManager) context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
-            NotificationChannel channel = manager.getNotificationChannel(NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID_ALL);
-            if (channel == null) {
-                channel = new NotificationChannel(NOTIFICATION_CHANNEL_ID_ALL,
-                        context.getString(R.string.notifications_channel_name_all), NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT);
-                manager.createNotificationChannel(channel);
-            }
-        }
-    }
 
     /**
      * Helps in setting up LeakCanary library
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/UploadService.java b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/UploadService.java
index edae8e38d..306c7272f 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/UploadService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/fr/free/nrw/commons/upload/UploadService.java
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ public class UploadService extends HandlerService<Contribution> {
     @Override
     public void onCreate() {
         super.onCreate();
-        CommonsApplication.createNotificationChannel(getApplicationContext());
+
         notificationManager = (NotificationManager) getSystemService(NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
     }
 
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index 05aa34949..afb609bda 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ android.useDeprecatedNdk=true
 BUTTERKNIFE_VERSION=8.6.0
 org.gradle.jvmargs=-Xmx1536M
 buildToolsVersion=27.0.0
-targetSdkVersion=27
+#TODO: Change back to 27 in v2.9, see https://github.com/commons-app/apps-android-commons/issues/1877
+targetSdkVersion=25
 
 #TODO: Temporary disabled. https://developer.android.com/studio/build/gradle-plugin-3-0-0-migration.html#aapt2
 #Refer to PR: https://github.com/commons-app/apps-android-commons/pull/932